Method for treating anxiety

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a method for treating anxiety in a human in need thereof, comprising administering to the human an antianxiety amount of a muscarinic agonist compound of the general formula ##STR1## wherein Z is a 5-membered heterocyclic ring as defined in the disclosure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Extensive research has been conducted for a number of years directed toward the development of compounds capable of treating anxiety in humans that are safer to the user and which exhibit fewer side-effects. For example, several clinically established anxiolytic agents such as the barbituates, meprobamate and the benzodiazepines have numerous side effects such as potential for abuse and addiction or potentiation of the effects of ethanol. The mechanism of action of these compounds is believed to involve the GABA/benzodiazepine receptor complex in humans.

Buspirone is another compound which has been studied for the treatment of anxiety. The literature states that Buspirone interacts with reasonable potency only at the 5-HT_(1A) and dopamine receptors. Alfred Goodman, et al., Goodman and Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 8:482 (1990); Tompkins et al. Research Communications in Psychology, Psychiatry, and Behavior, 5:4, p. 338 (1980).

The compounds employed in the present invention are known compounds taught to be compounds active at the muscarinic receptor.

As such, the compounds are taught to be useful in treating Alzheimer's disease, dementia, antispasmodics, urology, obstetrics, respiratory tract disorders, tardive dyskinesia, hyperkinesia, Tourette Syndrome, mania, severe painful conditions, and glaucoma. There is no disclosure or suggestion in the patents of using the compounds to treat anxiety.

The art has reported that compounds which act as agonists of the cholinergic muscarinic receptor can actually produce anxiety. See, Risch et al. Psychopharmacol. Bull., 19: 696-698 (1983), Nurnberger et al. Psychiatry Res., 9:191-200 (1983), and Nurnberger et al. Psychopharmacol. Bull. 17: 80-82 (1982).

Surprisingly, we have discovered that a group of compounds having muscarinic cholinergic activity can be useful for treating anxiety. The present invention relates to a method of treating anxiety. More specifically, the invention provides a method of treating anxiety in humans using specified compounds. The activity of these compounds is believed to be based on agonist action at the muscarinic cholinergic receptor.

As noted hereinbefore, the compounds employed in the method of the present invention are known. The compounds, method of preparing the compounds, as well as pharmaceutical formulations containing the compounds, are taught in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,923,880, 5,110,828, 5,041,436, 5,278,170, 7,177,084, 4,992,436, 5,260,293, 4,996,201, 5,066,662, 5,066,665, 5,066,663, 4,988,688, 5,106,853, 5,192,765, 5,041,455, 5,043,345, 5,260,314, 5,310,911, 5,106,851, 5,068,237, 5,318,978, 5,242,927, 5,300,516, 5,089,505, 5,302,595, 5,219,871, 5,096,890, 5,164,386, 5,164,514, 5,157,160, 5,217,975, and 5,081,130 herein incorporated by reference.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a method for treating anxiety in humans comprising administering to a human in need thereof, an antianxiety dose of a compound selected from the group consisting of: ##STR2## wherein R¹ is hydrogen, C₁ -C₆ alkyl or phenyl-C₁ -C₄ alkyl, in which the phenyl group may be substituted with halogen, C₁ -C₄ alkyl or C₁ -C₄ alkoxy;

R² is C₁ -C₆ alkyl, C₃ -C₆ alkynyl, branched or unbranched with 1-6 carbon atoms inclusive, which group may be optionally substituted with fluoro, hydroxy or phenyl optionally substituted with fluoro, trifluoromethyl, lower alkyl, hydroxy, or lower alkoxy;

R³ and R⁴ are independently hydrogen, C₁ -C₆ alkyl, C₃ -C₆ cycloalkyl, phenyl optionally substituted with halogen trifluroromethyl, C₁ -C₄ alkyl, hydroxy, or C₁ -C₄ alkoxy, or phenyl-C₁ -C₄ alkyl, in which the phenyl group may be substituted with halogen, C₁ -C₄ alkyl or C₁ -C₄ alkoxy; ##STR3## in which R⁵ represents the radical ##STR4## in which R⁶ at any position on the benzene ring represents linear, branched or cyclic C₁ -C₈ alkyl, C₂ -C₈ alkenyl or C₂ -C₈ alkynyl or the radical ##STR5## in which R⁷ and R⁸ which may be identical or different represent hydrogen, linear C₁ -C₈ alkyl, C₂ -C₈ alkenyl or C₂ -C₈ alkynyl or form together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached a carbonaceous hetercyclic radical optionally containing another heteroatom, or the radical OR⁹, R⁹ representing hydrogen, linear, branched or cyclic C₁ -C₈ alkyl, C₂ -C₈ alkenyl or C₂ -C₈ alkynyl or aryl containing up to 14 carbon atoms, or the radical SR¹⁰ or S(O)R¹¹, R¹⁰ and R¹¹ represent linear, branched or cyclic C₁ -C₈ alkyl, C₂ -C₈ alkenyl or C₂ -C₈ alkynyl, or R⁵ represents naphthyl optionally substituted with R^(6'), R^(6') being defined above for R⁶ ; ##STR6## in which R¹² represents the radical ##STR7## in which R¹³ at any position on the benzene ring represents linear, branched or cyclic C₁ -C₈ alkyl, C₂ -C₈ alkenyl or C₂ -C₈ alkynyl or the radical ##STR8## in which R¹⁴ and R¹⁵ which may be identical or different represent hydrogen, linear C₁ -C₈ alkyl, C₂ -C₈ alkenyl or C₂ -C₈ alkynyl or form together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached a carbonaceous hetercyclic radical optionally containing another heteroatom, or the radical or NO₂, or OR^(12'), R^(12') representing hydrogen, linear, branched or cyclic C₁ -C₈ alkyl, C₂ -C₈ alkenyl or C₂ -C₈ alkynyl or aryl containing up to 14 carbon atoms, or the radical SR¹⁶ or S(O)R¹⁷, R¹⁶ and R¹⁷ represent linear, branched or cyclic C₁ -C₈ alkyl, C₂ -C₈ alkenyl or C₂ -C₈ alkynyl, or R¹² represents naphthyl optionally substituted with R^(13'), R^(13') being defined above for R¹³ ; ##STR9## wherein, one of R¹⁸, R¹⁹, and R²⁰ represents nitrogen and the remainder represent carbon atoms; substituted on one of the ring carbon atoms with a R²⁴ substituent represented by a non-aromatic azacyclic or azabicyclic ring system and independently substituted on each of the other ring carbon atoms with R²³, R²¹, or R²² substituent of low lipophilicity or a hydrocarbon having a maximum of 20 carbon atoms; ##STR10## wherein one of R²⁸, R²⁹ or R³⁰ is an oxygen atom and the other two are nitrogen atoms, and the dotted circle represents aromaticity (two double bonds) thus forming a 1,3,4-oxadiazole or 1,2,4-oxadizole nucleus; R³¹ represents a non-aromatic '927azacycle or '927azabicyclic ring system; and R³² represents a substituent which is convertable in vivo to an amino group; ##STR11## wherein R³⁴ represents a non-aromatic; non-fused 1-azabicyclic ring system; and R³⁵, R³⁶, and R³⁷ independently represent hydrogen, F, Cl, Br, --CF₃, --OR³⁸, --NR³⁸ R³⁹, --NHOR³⁸, --NHNH₂, --CN, COR⁴⁰, or a substituted or unsubstituted, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group, provided that at least one of R³⁵, R³⁶, and R³⁷ is other than hydrogen or a hydrocarbon group, or R³⁵ and R³⁶ or R³⁷ taken together form a C₁₋₆ alkylenedioxy ring, wherein R³⁸ is C₁₋₆ alkyl, C₂₋₆ alkenyl or C₂₋₆ alkynyl, R³⁹ is hydrogen, C₁₋₆ alkyl, or --COCH₃, and R⁴⁰ represents OH, --OR³⁸, NHR³⁹, or --NR³⁸ R³⁹ ##STR12## wherein

R⁴³ is

alkyl of from one to six carbon atoms,

alkyl of from one to six carbon atoms substituted with hydroxy or alkoxy of from one to four carbon atoms,

alkenyl of from two to six carbon atoms,

alkenyl of from two to six carbon atoms substituted with hydroxy or alkoxy of from one to four carbon atoms,

alkynyl of from two to six carbon atoms,

alkynyl of from two to six carbon atoms substituted with hydroxy or alkoxy of from one to four carbon atoms,

cycloalkyl of from three to six carbon atoms, ##STR13## wherein n is zero or an integer of one to eight and R⁴⁷ and R⁴⁸ are independently hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, hydroxy, alkyl of from one to three carbon atoms, or alkoxy of from one to four carbon atoms, or ##STR14## wherein R⁴⁷ and R⁴⁸ are as defined above;

X is oxygen or sulfur;

R⁴⁴ is

alkyl of from one to six carbon atoms,

alkyl of from one to six carbon atoms substituted with hydroxy or alkoxy of from one to four carbon atoms,

alkenyl of from three to six carbon atoms

alkenyl of from three to six carbon atoms substituted with hydroxy or alkoxy of from one to four carbon atoms,

alkynyl of from three to six carbon atoms,

alkynyl of from three to six carbon atoms substituted with hydroxy or alkoxy of from one to four carbon atoms,

cycloalkyl of from three to six carbon atoms, or ##STR15## wherein n, R⁴⁷ and R⁴⁸ are as defined above; R⁴⁵ and R⁴⁶ are each independently hydrogen,

alkyl of from one to twenty carbon atoms,

alkyl of from one to twenty carbon atoms substituted with hydroxy or alkoxy of from one to four carbon atoms,

alkenyl of from three to twenty carbon atoms,

alkenyl of from three to twenty carbon atoms substituted with hydroxy or alkoxy of from one to four carbon atoms,

alkynyl of from three to twenty carbon atoms,

alkynyl of from three to twenty carbon atoms substituted with hydroxy or alkoxy of from one to four carbon atoms,

cycloalkyl of from three to eight carbon atoms,

phenyl,

phenyl substituted with alkyl of from one to four carbon atoms, alkyl of from one to four carbon atoms substituted with hydroxy of alkoxy of from one to four carbon atoms, alkoxy of form one to four carbon atoms, chlorine, bromine, hydroxy, nitro or trifluoromethyl or

R⁴⁵ and R⁴⁶ are taken together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached to from a ring denoted by ##STR16## wherein R⁴⁹ is hydrogen, alkyl of from one to ten carbon atoms, alkyl of from one to ten carbon atoms substituted with hydroxy or alkoxy of from one to four carbon atoms, alkenyl of from two to ten carbon atoms, alkenyl of from two to ten carbon atoms substituted with hydroxy or alkoxy of from one to four carbon atoms, alkynyl of from two to ten carbon atoms or alkynyl of from two to ten carbon atoms substituted with hydroxy or alkoxy of from one to four carbon atoms and n is as defined above, ##STR17## wherein X is as defined above or ##STR18## wherein R⁵⁰ is hydrogen or alkyl of from one to six carbon atoms, ##STR19## wherein R⁵¹ is selected from the group consisting of ##STR20## R⁵² is hydrogen, alkyl of from one to ten carbon atoms, alkynyl of from two to ten carbon atoms or aryl; n' is zero or an integer of one or two; X' is carbon or nitrogen; and . . . represents a single or double bond with the proviso that when, - - - represent a double bond X' is nitrogen and when - - - represents a single bond X' is CH₂ ; ##STR21## wherein R⁵³ is selected from the group consisting ##STR22## R⁵⁴, R⁵⁵, R⁵⁶, and R⁵⁷ are each independently hydrogen, alkyl of from one to ten carbon atoms, alkynyl of from two to ten carbon atoms, phenyl or phenyl substituted by one to four substituents selected from C1-C10alkyl, alkoxy, C1-C10halogen or trifluoromethyl; n" is an integer of one to two; ##STR23## wherein X is oxygen, sulfur, or --N--R⁶² wherein R⁶² is hydrogen or alkyl of from one to ten carbon atoms; R⁵⁸ is selected from the group consisting of ##STR24## R⁵⁷, R⁶⁰, and R⁶¹ are each independently hydrogen, alkyl of from one to ten carbon atoms, alkynyl of from two to ten carbon atoms or aryl; - - - represents a single or double bond with the proviso that when - - - represents a double bond R⁵⁹ and R⁶⁰ are absent; ##STR25## wherein R⁶³, R⁶⁴, and R⁶⁵ are each independently hydrogen, alkyl of from one to ten carbon atoms, alkynyl of from two to ten carbon atoms, phenyl or phenyl substituted by one to four substituents selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkoxy, thioalkoxy, halogen, and trifluoromethyl; R⁶⁶ is hydrogen, hydroxy or alkoxy of from one to ten carbon atoms; and R⁶⁷ is selected from the group consisting of ##STR26## wherein R⁶⁸ is hydrogen and R⁶⁹ is hydrogen,

alkyl of from one to six carbon atoms,

alkyl of from one to six carbon atoms substituted with hydroxy of alkoxy of from one to four carbon atoms,

alkenyl of from three to six carbon atoms,

alkenyl of from three to six carbon atoms substituted with hydroxy or alkoxy of from one to four carbon atoms,

alkynyl of from three to six carbon atoms,

alkynyl of from three to six carbon atoms substituted with hydroxy of alkoxy of from one to four carbon atoms,

cycloalkyl of from three to six carbon atoms, or

R⁶⁸ and R⁶⁹ are taken together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached to form a ring denoted by ##STR27## wherein n⁸¹ is zero or an integer from one to eight and R⁷³ is hydrogen, alkyl of from one to ten carbon atoms, alkyl of from one to ten carbon atoms substituted with hydroxy or alkoxy of from one to four carbon atoms, alkenyl of from two to ten carbon atoms, alkenyl of from two to ten carbon atoms substituted with hydroxy or alkoxy of from one to four carbon atoms, alkynyl of from two to ten carbon atoms or alkynyl of from two to ten carbon atoms substituted with hydroxy or alkoxy of from one to four carbon atoms;

R⁷⁰ is hydrogen,

alkyl of from one to six carbon atoms,

alkyl of from one to six carbon atoms substituted with hydroxy or alkoxy of from one to four carbon atoms,

alkenyl of from three to six carbon atoms,

alkenyl of from three to six carbon atoms substituted with hydroxy of alkoxy of from one to four carbon atoms,

alkynyl of from three to six carbon atoms,

alkynyl of from three to six carbon atoms substituted with hydroxy of alkoxy of from one to four carbon atoms,

cycloalkyl of from three to six carbon atoms, or

R⁷⁰ when taken together with R⁶⁸ forms a ring denoted by ##STR28## wherein n is an integer from one to three and R⁶⁸ are as defined above;

R⁷¹ and R⁷² are each independently

hydrogen,

alkyl of from one to twenty carbon atoms,

alkyl of from one to twenty carbon atoms substituted with hydroxy or alkoxy of from one to four carbon atoms,

alkenyl of from three to twenty carbon atoms,

alkenyl of from three to twenty carbon atoms substituted with hydroxy or alkoxy of from one to four carbon atoms,

alkenyl of from three to twenty carbon atoms,

alkynyl of from three to twenty carbon atoms substituted with hydroxy or alkoxy of from one to four carbon atoms,

cycloalkyl of from three to eight carbon atoms, phenyl,

phenyl substituted with alkyl of from one to four carbon atoms, alkyl of from one to four carbon atoms substituted with hydroxy or alkoxy of from one to four carbon atoms, alkoxy of from one to four carbon atoms, chlorine, bromine, hydroxy, nitro or trifluoromethyl or R³ and R⁴ are taken together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached to from a ring denoted by ##STR29## wherein n'" and R⁷⁸ are as defined above, ##STR30## wherein R⁷⁴ is hydrogen or alkyl of from one to six carbon atoms, ##STR31## in which Z is a heterocyclic group ##STR32## in which Q represents a 3-membered divalent residue completing a 5-membered aromatic ring and comprises one to two heteroatoms selected from oxygen, nitrogen and sulphur, or three nitrogen atoms, any amino nitrogen being substituted by a C₁₋₂ alkyl, cyclopropyl or propargyl group, and any ring carbon atom being optionally substituted by a group R₁ ; or a group ##STR33## in which A₁, A₂ and A₃ complete a 5-membered aromatic ring and A₁ is oxygen or sulphur, one of A₂ and A₃ is CR₂ and the other is nitrogen or CR₃, or A₂ is oxygen or sulphur, one of A₁ and A₃ is CR₂ and the other is CR₃ ; and R₁, R₂ and R₃ are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, CN, OR₄, SR₄, N(R₄)₂, NHCOR₄, NHCOOCH₃, NHCOOC₂ H₅, NHOR₄, NHNH₂, NO₂, COR₄, COR₅, cyclopropyl, C₂₋₅ straight chain alkenyl, C₂₋₅ straight chain alkynyl or C₁₋₅ straight chain alkyl optionally terminally substituted with OR₄, N(R₄)₂, SR₄, CO₂ R₄, CON(R₄)₂ is one, two or three halogen atoms, in which each R₄ is independently hydrogen or C₁₋₃ alkyl and R₅ is OR₄, NH₂ or NHR₄ ; or in which Z is a group --C(R₇)═NR₆ in which R₆ is a group OR₈, where R₈ is C₁₋₄ alkyl, C₂₋₄ alkenyl, C₂₋₄ alkynyl, a group OCOR₉ where R₉ is hydrogen or R₈, or a group NHR₁₀ or NR₁₁ R₁₂ where R₁₀ R₁₁ and R₁₂ are independently C₁₋₂ alkyl and R₇ is hydrogen or C₁₋₄ alkyl, subject to the proviso that when R₆ is a group OCOR₉ or NHR₁₀, R₇ is C₁₋₄ alkyl; ##STR34## in which one of X and Y represents hydrogen and the other represents Z', where Z' is a group ##STR35## in which Q' represents a 3-membered divalent residue completing a 5-membered aromatic ring and comprises two to three nitrogen atoms, any amino nitrogen being substituted by a C₁₋₂ alkyl, cyclopropyl or propargyl group, r represents the integer of 2 or 3, s represents an integer of 1 or 2 and t represents 0, with the proviso that when Y is hydrogen s is 1; ##STR36## wherein R⁷⁵ represents ##STR37## in which each of p and q independently represents an integer of 2 to 4, r represents an integer of 2 to 4, s represents 1 or 2 and t represents 0 and 1;

R⁷⁶ is a group OR⁷⁸, where R⁷⁸ is C₁₋₄ alkyl, C₂₋₄ alkenyl, C₂₋₄ alkynyl, a group OCOR⁷⁹ where R⁷⁹ is hydrogen or R⁷⁸, or a group NHR⁸⁰ or NR⁸¹, R⁸² where R⁸⁰ R⁸¹ and R⁸² are independently C₁₋₂ alkyl; and R⁷⁷ is hydrogen or C₁₋₄ alkyl, subject to the proviso that when R⁷⁶ is a group OCOR⁷⁹ or a group NHR⁸⁰, R⁷⁷ is alkyl; (3R,4R)-3-(3-cyclopropyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-yl)-1-azabicyclo[2.2.1heptane; or

a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It is to be understood that the invention extends to the use of each of the stereoisomeric forms of the compounds of the present invention as well as the pure diastereomeric, pure enantiomeric, and racemic forms of the named compounds.

The term "low lipophilicity" refers to hydrogen, halogen, --CR₃, --OR²⁵, --NR²⁵ R²⁶, --NHOR²⁵, --NHNH₂, --CN, COR⁸, or a substituted or unsubstituted, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group; wherein R²⁵ is hydrogen, C₁ -C₆ alkyl, C₂₋₆ alkenyl or C₂₋₆ alkynyl; R²⁶ is hydrogen, alkyl or --COCH₃, and R27 represents --OR²⁵ or --NR²⁵ R²⁶ ;

The term azacyclic or azabicyclic ring system is a non-aromatic ring system containing one nitrogen atom as the sole heteroatom. Suitably, the ring system contains from 4-10 ring atoms, preferably from 5-8 ring atoms. Preferably, the ring system contains a tertiary amino nitrogen atom in a caged structure. The bicyclic systems may be fused, spiro, or bridged. Preferably, the nitrogen atom is at a bridgehead in a bicyclic system. Examples of such heteroatoms include the heteroatoms described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,260,293, columns 2-3, which has been incorporated by reference.

The term "'927 azacyclic or '927 azabicyclic" refers to a non-aromatic ring system containing one nitrogen atom as the sole heteroatom. Suitably the ring contains from 4 to 10 ring atoms. Preferably from 5-8 ring atoms. The bicyclic systems may be fused, spiro or bridged. Examples of such heteroatoms include the bicyclic heteroatoms described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,242,927 column 2, which has been incorporated by reference. The most preferred '927azabicyclic or '927azacyclic systems include pyrrolidine, 1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridine, quinuclidine or 1-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane ring, optionally substituted with methyl or hydroxy. An especially preferred '927 azabicyclic ring is quinuclidine, which is substituted by hydrogen, methyl or hydroxy at any available atom.

Groups which are converted in vivo to an amino group on the compounds claimed herein for treating anxiety may be ascertained by administering the compound to a human or an animal and detecting, by conventional analytical techniques, the presence of the corresponding compound having an amino substituent in the urine of a human or animal. Examples of such groups include groups which are hydrolysable in vivo to an amino group, such as amido, urethan substituents. In particular a group of the formula --NH.Q wherein Q represents CHO, COR³³ or CO₂ R³³, and R³³ represents an optionally substituted hyrocarbon group. The term hydrocarbon group includes groups having up to 20 carbon atoms, suitably up to 10, and conveniently up to 8 carbon atoms. Suitable hydrocarbon groups include C₁₋₈ alkyl, C₂₋₈ alkenyl, C₂₋₈ alkynyl, C₃₋₇ cycloalkyl, C₃₋₇ cycloalkylC₁₋₆ alkyl, aryl and arylC₁₋₆ alkyl.

Suitable R³⁴ groups include the following: ##STR38## wherein the broken line represents an optional chemical bond; and R⁴¹ and R⁴² may be present at any position, including the point of attachment to the benzene ring, and independently represent hydrogen, C₁₋₄, F, Br, Cl, C₁₋₄ alkoxy, hydroxy, carboxy, or C₁₋₄ alkyoxycarbonyl or R⁴¹ and R⁴² together represent cabonyl. The nitrogen atom may be substituted by hydrogen or C₁₋₄ alkyl.

The term "phenyl-C₁ -C₄ alkyl" designates an alkyl group which is substituted with a phenyl group. Preferred phenyl-alkyl groups include benzyl, 1- and 2-phenylethyl, 1-, 2-, 3-phenyla propyl and 1-methyl-1-phenylethyl. The phenyl group may be optionally be substituted with from 1-3 independently selected named substituents.

The term "form together with the nitrogen atom to which they are joined, a heterocyclic radical" means that a heterocyclic radical optionally containing another heteroatom, for example, S or O. Such groups include, but are not limited to, piperidyl, piperazynyl, morpholinyl, and pyrrolidinyl.

The term "alkyl" refers to the number of carbon atoms indicated; however, when no number is specified, the term refers to C₁₋₆ alky. The alkyl may be linear or branched unless specified.

The term "halogen" refers to chloro, bromo, and fluoro substituents.

The term "alkynyl" has its accepted means; however, if the number of carbon atoms are unspecified, it refers to C₂₋₁₀ alkynyl. The alkynyl group may be linear or branched unless specified.

The term alkoxy refers to C₁₋₄ alkoxy unless specified.

The term "antianxiety dose", as used herein, represents an amount of compound necessary to prevent or treat a human susceptible to or suffering from anxiety following administration to such human. The active compounds are effective over a wide dosage range. For example, dosages per day will normally fall within the range of about 0.005 to about 500 mg/kg of body weight. In the treatment of adult humans, the range of about 0.05 to about 100 mg/kg, in single or divided doses, is preferred. However, it will be understood that the amount of the compound actually administered will be determined by a physician, in the light of the relevant circumstances including the condition to be treated, the choice of compound to be administered, the age, weight, and response of the individual patient, the severity of the patient's symptoms, and the chosen route of administration, and therefore the above dosage ranges are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way. While the present compounds are preferably administered orally to humans susceptible to or suffering from anxiety, the compounds may also be administered by a variety of other routes such as the transdermal, parenterally, subcutaneous, intranasal, intramuscular and intravenous routes. Such formulations may be designed to provide delayed or controlled release using formulation techniques which are known in the art.

As used herein the term "treating" includes prophylaxis of a physical and/or mental condition or amelioration or elimination of the developed physical and/or mental condition once it has been established or alleviation of the characteristic symptoms of such condition.

As used herein the term "anxiety" refers to an anxiety disorder. Examples of anxiety disorders which may preferredly be treated using an effective amount of a named compound or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof include, but are not limited to: Panic Attack; Agoraphobia; Acute Stress Disorder; Specific Phobia; Panic Disorder; Psychoactive Substance Anxiety Disorder; Organic Anxiety Disorder; Obsessive-Compulsive Anxiety Disorder; Posttraumatic Stress Disorder; Generalized Anxiety Disorder; and Anxiety Disorder NOS.

Examples of anxiety disorders which may more preferredly be treated using an effective amount of a named compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof include Panic Attack; Panic Disorder; Psychoactive Substance Anxiety Disorder; Organic Anxiety Disorder; Obsessive-Compulsive Anxiety Disorder; Posttraumatic Stress Disorder; Generalized Anxiety Disorder; and Anxiety Disorder NOS.

Examples of the anxiety disorders which are most preferredly treated using a named compound include Organic Anxiety Disorder; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder; Posttraumatic Stress Disorder; Generalized Anxiety Disorder; and Anxiety Disorder NOS.

The named anxiety disorders have been characterized in the DSM-IV-R. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Revised, 4Ed. (1994). The DSM-IV-R was prepared by the Task Force on Nomenclature and Statistics of the American Psychiatric Association, and provides clear descriptions of diagnostic categories. The skilled artisan will recognize that there are alternative nomenclatures, nosologies, and classification systems for pathologic psychological conditions and that these systems evolve with medical scientific progress.

The compounds employed in the invention are not believed to act via the GABA/benzodiazepine, 5HT1A, or D1 receptor systems in humans. Rather, the activity of the present compounds as antianxiety agents is believed to be based upon modulation of muscarinic cholinergic receptors. However, the mechanism by which the present compounds function is not necessarily the mechanism stated supra., and the present invention is not limited by any mode of operation.

The following Examples are studies to establish the usefulness of the named compounds for treating anxiety.

EXAMPLE 1 Punished Responding

The antianxiety activity of the compounds employed in the method of the present invention is established by demonstrating that the compounds increase punished responding. This procedure has been used to establish antianxiety activity in clinically established compounds.

According to this procedure, the responding of rats or pigeons is maintained by a multiple schedule of food presentation. In one component of the schedule, responding produces food pellet presentation only. In a second component, responding produces both food pellet presentation and is also punished by presentation of a brief electric shock. Each component of the multiple schedule is approximately 4 minutes in duration, and the shock duration is approximately 0.3 seconds. The shock intensity is adjusted for each individual animal so that the rate of punished responding is approximately 15 to 30% of the rate in the unpunished component of the multiple schedule. Sessions are conducted each weekday and are approximately 60 min in duration. Vehicle or a dose of compound are administered 30 min in duration. Vehicle or a dose of compound are administered 30 min to 6 hr before the tart of the test session by the subcutaneous or oral route. Compound effects for each dose for each animal are calculated as a percent of the vehicle control data for that animal. The data are expressed as the mean ± the standard error of the mean.

EXAMPLE 2 Monkey Taming Model

Further, the antianxiety activity of the compounds is established by demonstrating that the compounds are effective in the monkey taming model. Plotnikoff Res. Comm. Chem. Path. & Pharmacol., 5: 128-134 (1973) described the response of rhesus monkeys to pole prodding as a method of evaluating the antiaggressive activity of a test compound. In this method, the antiaggressive activity of a compound was considered to be indicative of its antianxiety activity. Hypoactivity and ataxia were considered to be indicative of a sedative component of the compound. The present study is designed to measure the pole prod response-inhibition induced by a compound of this invention in comparison with that of a standard antianxiety compound such as diazepam as a measure of antiaggressive potential, and to obtain an indication of the duration of action of the compound.

Male and female rhesus or cynomologous monkeys, selected for their aggressiveness toward a pole, are housed individually in a primate colony room. Compounds or appropriate vehicle are administered orally or subcutaneously and the animals are observed by a trained observer at varying times after drug administration. A minimum of three days (usually a week or more) elapses between treatments. Treatments are assigned in random fashion except that no monkey receives the same compound two times consecutively.

Aggressiveness and motor impairment are graded by response to a pole being introduced into the cage as described in Table 1. The individuals responsible for grading the responses are unaware of the dose levels received by the monkeys.

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                         Grading of Monkey Response to Pole Introduction                                Response  Grade   Description                                                  ______________________________________                                         Attack    2       Monkey immediately grabbed and/or                                              bit pole as it was placed at opening                                           in cage.                                                               1       Monkey grabbed and/or bit pole only                                            after the tip was extended into the cage                                       12 inches or more.                                                     0       No grabbing or biting observed.                              Pole Push 2       Monkey grabbed the pole to attack it                                           or push it away.                                                       1       Monkey touched the pole only in                                                attempting to avoid it or rode on the                                          pole (avoidance).                                                      0       No pushing, grabbing or riding of                                              the pole observed.                                           Biting    2       Monkey bit aggressively and                                                    frequently.                                                            1       Monkey bit weakly or infrequently                                      0       No biting observed.                                          Ataxia    2       Monkey exhibited a marked loss of                                              coordination.                                                          1       Slight loss of coordination                                                    observed.                                                              0       No effects on coordination observed.                         Hypoactivity                                                                             2       Marked: Monkey was observed in a                                               prone position. May or may not have                                            responded by rising and moving away                                            when experimenter approached.                                          1       Slight: Monkey did not retreat as                                              readily when experimenter approached                                   0       None.                                                        Antiaggression                                                                           +       Dose of drug was active in decreasing                        Activity of       global assessment of aggressive                              Drug Dose         behavior                                                               -       Dose of drug was not active in                                                 decreasing aggresive behavior                                ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 3 Human Clinical Trials

Finally, the antianxiety activity of the named compounds can be demonstrated by human clinical trials. The study was designed as a double-blind, parallel, placebo-controlled multicenter trial. The patients were randomized into four groups, placebo and 25, 50, and 75 mg tid of test compound. The dosages were administered orally with food. Patients were observed at four visits to provide baseline measurements. Visits 5-33 served as the treatment phase for the study.

During the visits, patients and their caregivers were questioned and observed for signs of agitation, mood swings, vocal outbursts, suspiciousness, and fearfulness. Each of these behaviors are indicative of the effect of the test compound on an anxiety disorder.

For example, one test compound produced the following results:

    ______________________________________                                                          Placebo  25 mg  50 mg  75 mg                                  Behavioral       (N = 87) (N = 85)                                                                              (N = 83)                                                                              (N = 87)                               Event     p      n (%)    n (%)  n (%)  n (%)                                  ______________________________________                                         Agitation .006   40 (46)  34 (40)                                                                               24 (29)                                                                               20 (23)                                Mood swings                                                                              .025   40 (46)  25 (29)                                                                               21 (25)                                                                               28 (32)                                Vocal     .001   33 (38)  29 (34)                                                                               24 (29)                                                                               11 (13)                                Outbursts                                                                      Suspiciousness                                                                           .001   32 (37)  23 (27)                                                                               26 (31)                                                                               7 (8)                                  Fearfulness                                                                              .038   25 (29)  28 (33)                                                                               19 (23)                                                                               13 (15)                                ______________________________________                                    

Treatment groups were compared with respect to the number and percent of patients who ever had the symptom during the double-blind portion of the study (visits 5 through 33), at a severity that was worse than during the baseline visits (1 through 4).

Preferred compounds for use in treating anxiety include:

(3R, 4R)-3-(3-cyclopropyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-yl)-1-azabicyclo[2.2.1heptane and compounds of Formulae IV, V, VIII, IX, XIII, XIV, and XV; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Especially preferred compounds include the following: compounds of Formulae XIII, XIV, and XV.

Examples of preferred compounds include, but are not limited to, 3-[2-(6-hydroxypyrazin)yl]-1-azabicyclo[2.2.2.]octane, 3-(2-pyrazinyl)-1-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane, 6-(2-pyrazinyl)-1-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane, 6-(2-pyrazinyl)-1-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-6-ol, 3-fluoro-3-(2-pyrazinyl)-1-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane, 1-methyl-3-(2-pyrazinyl)pyrrolidine, 3-[2-(3-methylpyrazin)yl]-1-azabicyclo[2.2.2]octan-3-ol, 3-[2-(3,6-dimethylpyrazin)yl]-1-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane, 3-[2-(6-allyloxypyrazin)yl]-1-azabicyclo[2.2.2]octane, 3-[2-(6-chloropyrazin)yl]-1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridine, 3-[5-(3-octanyloxycarbonylamino-1,2,4-oxadiazol)-yl]-1-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane, 3-[5-(3-cyclohexylcarbonylamino-1,2,3-oxadiazol)-yl]quinuclidine, 3-[5-(3-(1-(3-n-pentyloxycarbonyl)-1-ethoxycarbonylamino)-1,2,4-oxadiazol)-yl]quinuclidine, 3-(5-(3-octanoylamino-1,2,4-oxadiazol)-yl]quinuclidine, 3-[(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-5-yl()methyl]1,2,4-oxadiazol-5(4H)-one, 4-methyl-3-[(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-4-yl)-methyl]1,2,4-oxadizol-5(4H)-one, 4-ethyl-3[(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-4-yl)-methyl]-1,2,4-oxadiazol-5(4H)-one, N-[4-(hexahydro-1H-azaepin-1-yl)-2-butynyl]-N,N-dimethyl urea, N-[4-1-pyrrolidinyl)-2-butynyl]-urea, 5-acetyl-1-azabicyclo [3.1.1]heptane, 1-azabicyclo[3.1.1]hept-5-ylcarboxaldehyde, 3-(2-methyltetrazol-5-yl)-1-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane, 3-(2-methyl-1,2,3-triazol-4yl)-1-azabicyclo-[2.2.2]octane, 3-(3-cyclopropyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-yl)-1-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane, and a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof. 

We claim:
 1. A method for treating anxiety in a human in need thereof, comprising administering to said human an antianxiety amount of a compound of the formula: ##STR39## in which Z is a heterocyclic group ##STR40## in which Q represents a 3-membered divalent residue completing a 5-membered aromatic ring and comprises one or two heteroatoms selected from oxygen, nitrogen and sulphur, or three nitrogen atoms, any amino nitrogen being substituted by a C₁₋₂ alkyl, cyclopropyl or propargyl group, and any ring carbon atom being optionally substituted by a group R₁ ; orZ is a group ##STR41## in which A₁, A₂ and A₃ complete a 5-membered aromatic ring and A₁ is oxygen or sulphur, one of A₂ and A₃ is CR₂, and the other is nitrogen or CR₃ ; or A₂ is oxygen or sulphur, one of A₁ and A₃ is CR₂ and the other is CR₃ ; and R₁, R₂ and R₃ are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, CN, OR₄, SR₄, N(R₄)₂, NHCOR₄, NHCOOCH₃, NHCOOC₂ H₅, NHOR₄, NHNH₂, NO₂, COR₄, COR₅, cyclopropyl, C₂₋₅ straight chain alkenyl, C₂₋₅ straight chain alkynyl or C₁₋₅ straight chain alkyl optionally terminally substituted with OR₄, N(R₄)₂, SR₄, CO₂ R₄, CON(R₄)₂ or one, two or three halogen atoms; each R₄ is independently hydrogen or C₁₋₃ alkyl; R₅ is OR₄, NH₂ or NHR₄ ; or z is a group --C(R₇)═NR₆ ; R₆ is a group OR₈ ; R₇ is hydrogen or C₁₋₄ alkyl;l R₈ is C₁₋₄ alkyl, C₂₋₄ alkenyl, C₂₋₄ alkynyl, or --OCOR₉ ; R₉ is hydrogen, R₈, or a group NHR₁₀ or NR₁₁ R₁₂ ; R₁₀, R₁₁ and R₁₂ are independently C₁₋₂ alkyl; subject to the proviso that, when R₆ is OCOR₉ or NHR₁₀, R₇ is C₁₋₄ alkyl; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof. 